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DBTAGHBD GRUGIBLB POR LEAD mRNAs-ES.

Patented' May 21 1889.

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- N. R. WILSON.

DETAGHBD GRUCIBLB PoR LEAD FURNAGES.

v Patented May 21 1889?- ZML- F E- vJai I' Y l ttmrnays nmwmniub-IG (No Model.) K 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

lN. R. WILsoN. l DETAGHBD GRUCIBLE FOR LEAD PURNAGES.

No. 403,815. Patented May 21 1889.

lmwwl UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

NElV'lON R. 'ILSON, OF SOCORRO, TERRITORY OF NElV MEXICO.

DETACHED CRUCIBLE FOR LEAD-FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,815, dated May 21, 1889.

Applicaticu filed August 14, 1888. Serial No. 282,722. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, NEWTON R. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Socorro, county of Socorro, and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and 'useful Improvements in Detached Orucibles for Lead-Furnaces, of which the following vis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a crucible constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vert-ical sectional view thereof, showing the same in position abovethe bullionq'acks. Fig. 3 is an end view showin g, in addition, the dumping mechanism. Fig. 4. is a perspective detail view showing a View of the cruciblc with part broken away, and also of the screen for protecting the workmen from the glare of the furnace and molten metal. Fig. 5 is a side view of the gate. Fig. G is a face view thereof. v. i

This is a contrivance to be used in leadsmelting for the'separation of lead or base bullion, matte, speiss, and slag, and to overcome the diiiiculties encountered in the common Crucible-furnace and in all forms of detached crucibles heretfore used from the frequent solidification of the molten material in the Crucible or fore-hearth.

The invention consists of a cast-iron box or bowl whose upper section is divided into two compartments, ca and b-called, respectively, slag-compartment and lead-compart` mentby a partition, c, extending only a short distance down into the bowl. The lower section is also divided temporarily into two compartments 'by a movable gate, d, provided with a handle, e. This gate ts accurately the section of the bowl, and when in place its top rests against the bottom of the partition, and isheld in place by means of the lugs f f onthe bottom of the bowl and the turn-clampg, working through the handle e and the slot h in the partition c, or it may be held in any other suitable manner. rl`he bowl is surrounded by a sheet-iron casing attached to it by studs'z' t', screwed into its upper edge, leaving' a small space between the casting and the: sheet-iron casing, which is filled with a non-conductor of heat, such as mineral wool. `-Qn one side of the bowl are attached two cast-iron spouts-tlie uppeigj, an overflow-spoutfor slag, and the lower, j', for matte and speiss. On the bottom of the bowl is cast a lug containing an iron ring, K, to which a 'chain and pulley may be attached for dumping, Fig. 2J. There are two trull- Ilions, l attached to the casting, one at each end, upon which it turns and by which it is suspended upon a truck running upon a track, as shown.

At the bottom of. the lead-compartment is cast a projection, m, Figs. .t and 3, extending through the sheet-iron casing and having a hole bored through it connecting with the interior of the lead-compartment. At the outer endA of this projection is a small spout, fn. Below the detached Crucible is a bullion-rack, consisting of two pieces of railroad -iron mounted upon wheels running upon a track and carrying a number of bullion-molds. Han ging above the Crucible, between thelead and slag compartments and extending down upon the side away from the furnace, is a screen, o, Fig. 4, made by rivet-ing two pieces of light sheet-iron toa lightl iron frame having an air-space between.

Where desired, a cover may be placed over the slag-compartment similar to those now in use, with tliisditference, that the cover is to be overlaid with a non-conducting coating in the same manner. as the body of the crucible.

The method of using the crucible is as follows: The gate A d, being luted with slag around its edges, is put in place and the crucible is run up in front of the smelting-furnace so that the spout from the furnace projects over into the slag-compartment at the point C. The tap-holes j and m being stopped with plugs of clay or other material, the furnace is tapped and the lead or base bullion, matte, speiss, and slag are all allowed to iow into th e slag-compartment of the crucible. The different substances arrange themselves in the crucible according to their specific gravities, the lead being at the bottom and speiss, matte, and slag above, in the order named. When the slag-compartment is full, the slag overflows through the spout and is caught in slag-pots and removed. lV hen sufficient lead has accumulated in the slag-compartment to rise somewhat above the bottom of the partition c, the gate d is removed andthe IOO 4o and thicker,building down toward the bottom p a constant height on a level with the bottom of the partition c by dipping from the leadcompartment. At intervals speiss and matte are tapped through the hole j. The screen o is l1 ung in position to protect the workmen from the heat and smoke when dipping or tapping lead. NYhen it becomes necessary to remove the crucible from the furnace, all the lead is allowed to ow from it through the hole at on into the bullion-molds underneath. The .fucible is then pushed away from the furnace and run under a trestle, Fig. 3, on which is hung a pulley. A cha-in is now attached to the ring at the bottom -and the bowl is inverted and its contents allowed to drop into a pit below.

I am aware that numerous attempts have been made to separate lead from speiss, mat-te, and sla'gT by the use of detached crucibles or forehearths of various forms. They have all been open to serious objections, the principal one of which arises from the fact that the only communication between the sla-g and lead compartments is through a hole in the bottom of the partition separating these compartments. Many substances-such as coper and zinc-form ditiicultly-fusible lead,

and although these alloys readily ow fromv the hot furnace they immediately chill in the fore-hearth, forming mushy lead, as it is technically called, which at first Hoats in a thick scum or in large lumps on the surface of the lead, but, if allowed to remain, soon solidiiies and forms a tough crust over the thin lead below. This crust grows thicker its operation.

of the fore-hearth, and soon puts an end to ln the fore-hearth herein described this dificulty is overcome by the movable gate, which, completely shutting off communication between the compartments, so

-that no slag can get into the lead-compartment while the fore-hearth is being filled, al-

lows a short partition extending only to the surface of the lead, or very slightly below it, to be used. The thick scum formed on the surface of the lead flows, or by means of an iron hook may readily be drawn, under this partition as fast as formed, and all dan ger of the contents of the fore-hearth becoming chilled is obviated. I believe that the principlc of removing the lead from the surface of the lead-bath in the fore-hearth, instead of from the bottom, as has always previously been done, is entirely new, and that no forehearth heretofore used can be operated in this manner.

. Having thus described the invention, the

`for the mushy surface lead, with a detachable gate adapted to complet-ely shut olf said passage, substantially as set forth.

NEVTON R. 'ILSON.

Vitnesses CHAs. ALLEN, C. T. HUGHES. 

